Thanks. It does look intriguing, and visually beautiful. I like Nicole Kidman as Mrs Coulter -- inspired casting. It remains to be seen how well the movie captures the book, but I will be happy to give it a try.

Rosefolly

I've had these books on the TBR pile for ages, so with a movie coming out, I guess it's time to move them up. The Golden Compass is on my DD's summer reading list, too. Thanks for the heads-up on the movie.

The visuals do look great. I thought Iorek (the polar bear) looked great(I'm assuming they are using the same technology for Iorek as the Narnia film used for Aslan). I also think Sam Elliott as Lee Scoresby is an inspired choice (but I like Sam). What the trailer doesn't seem to show us is how the daemons will translate to film. Most curious to see how that works out.

Georgia Peach - at the very beginning of the preview Lyra's daemon appeared as a shadowy form...and then emerged as an ermine...but during the film we also saw a large cat and a small cat which I assumed were daemons.

Did you click on the 'meet your daemon' link?

Yes... I did the cute meet your daemon quiz (mine is a chimp) and saw the ermine appear from its shadowy form. They put together some nice graphics for the ad site, but it is still difficult to determine how this will translate to film in just a film clip and some interactive web content. In the middle of the movie trailer, you'll also see Pantalaimon walking across the snow with Lyra. I'm encouraged by the visuals at the site, though.

Good grief, my daemon is a mouse. I guess I can forgive them.

R

Bumping since this is getting some attention on the monthly reading thread.

Has anyone watched the latest trailer for this? Do you think they are going to introduce some characters from Subtle Knife and Amber Spyglass in The Golden Compass movie? I noticed two dragonfly creatures in the latest trailer which made me wonder if the Chevalier Tialys and the Lady Salmakia make an appearance in this film. I don't remember them being in the first book. Were they?

I can't wait to see this. I've told my husband he needs to watch the kids so I can watch it by myself!

Oh lordy. My daemon is a Gibbon. I have never read the books and probably will not see the movie until DVD, but Amazon keeps shoving the books my way under "recommendations" so perhaps I will give them a try

I did my daemon and mine is a Crow. Not sure what that means ... *vbg*

There is an excellent article in the current issue of Newsweek about the movie. I'll post the link below in case you're interested in reading it. The article mentions that Pullman always envisioned Nicole Kidman as Mrs. Coulter and even wrote her a note telling her so.

Here is a link that might be useful: Newsweek Article - The Golden Compass

too bizarre-I did my daemon, and it is a chimp named Aesop, the name of the much-maligned new computer software used in my school district to assign substitute teachers-we all hate it! It is haunting me!

The profile was right-on, though.

I did mine and my daemon is a lion...I think I need to go back & read what that means!

Pat

My daemon is a cute little red fox (one of 30,000 apparently) named Alchaeon. Hmmm.

I enjoyed the books and plan to see the movie.

I wanted to be one of the cute little creatures...but I am the spider..."modest, inquisitive, solitary, and soft spoken" I could agree with the description, but didn't much like being a spider!

sarah-my daemon is also the red fox.

Mine was Caladon an Osprey. The description fit me, as well.

Mine came up a tiger which, of course, sounds fine!

Am I the only one distressed by Nicole Kidman's hair? It seems like I recall her character having dark curly hair and that being a prominent description. But it's been awhile since I've read the book.

pam53 - Did the description fit you? Mine was pretty close.

bumblebeez -- I remember Mrs. Coulter being a beautiful, icy blonde. But It's been a while since I read the books.

Here is an article you may find interesting taken from this morning's Daily Telegraph about Pullman and some of his views.
I have never read anything by PP so the article does not represent how I might feel about the subject.

Here is a link that might be useful: Philip Pullman

There have been quite a few articles written about Pullman's His Dark Materials series and his personal views, and most of the recent articles are a rehashing of the old ones. Attached is a New Yorker article from a few years ago, when Pullman was under fire for criticizing CS Lewis and Narnia.

Nicole Kidman may have been the physical inspiration for Mrs. Coulter, but I also remember reading somewhere (I think on Pullman's website) that actor Lee Van Cleef was the physical inspiration for Lee Scoresby (who is played by Sam Elliott in the film).

Here is a link that might be useful: New Yorker Article - Far From Narnia

Thanks, Vee, for posting the link to the Telegraph article. I thought that, somewhere tucked away, was the information that he was a Welshman.

Does anyone know why the first book's title was changed from 'Northern Lights' to 'The Golden Compass'? 'Northern Lights' seemed to me to be more relevant to the book's content than the other. Something to do with the 'American Market', did I hear? If so, why?

Dido

Dido, I put your question to Google and it came up with the information below. Probably as accurate an answer as any other.

Here is a link that might be useful: A Question Answered?

Veer, thanks for the link to that website. I found a great deal of interesting information there.

Ok, I found it quickly, the end of chapter three. Mrs. Coulter has "sleek black hair".

bumblebeez - I must have skated right over that description, because I always thought of her as blonde. Funny how that works.

Thanks, Vee. Suitable obfuscation - I'll go along with it.

Another question: Why, when I try to get the site and find out what my Daemon is, do I just get miserable music for several minutes and a blank screen; then, when options appear and I click on 'Daemon' (or something), do I just get more miserable music? And more blank screen? (at which point I switch to something more interesting). Can anyone help me precipitate all this without many more minutes and lots more miserable music? Please?

Dido

Dido, I just went to the Daemon site to see what happened. It was very slow and accompanied by sombre music. I had to keep clicking onto the Daemon thing along the top right but it eventually brought up various deep and searching questions which revealed my D to be a chimp.
No time to write more as I have a sudden urge to swing from a tree while eating a banana.

I will never know what my Daemon is as none of the computers I am using have the Adobe Flash Player installed. ;-(

Vee, I had a bit more patience this time as I realised you were getting much the same slow-motion response as I was having. So after 20 mins, the 'searching questions' came up and revealed my daemon to be a Tiger called Aerodon. Since I had the site there and then before me, I persuaded Stan to find his as well: he turns out to be a Snow Leopard. Not sure they're compatible.... both in the same sort of predatory field..... Anyway -

Nice banana was it? Have fun on the swings? Just off, meself, to terrorise the local Dog population just for a bit of fun before dinner.

Mary, Can't you download the Adobe Flash Player from the internet? When I first clicked on the Golden Compass website, the offer of a download came up so I did it and now I've got it.

Dido

I bought this book yesterday upon discovering a very inexpensive copy and find that I can hardly put it down.

My daemon is a tiger, which I find rather fitting.

I saw the movie today. I had mixed feelings about it. Visually the movie was stunning, and several performances quite good, most especially that of the child actor who plays Lyra. I had just re-read the book so I was very conscious of every change that was made. Perhaps re-reading it right before seeing the movie was not a great idea. The movie also stopped about two chapters short of the end of the novel, with Lyra on her way to see Lord Asriel. I can understand the reasoning here. With the decision to make the sequels uncertain, this is probably a more satisfying ending. Those who have read the book will know what I mean.

Rosefolly

Mine is a tiger too, called Verian. Normally I consider these tests to be just a bit of fun, but it's clear to me that this one is based on deep psychological meanings, and has come up with a remarkably accurate assessment of me.

Anyone going to argue with me? Especially those with small, meaty daemons? (Licks lips...)

I'm looking forward to the film. I was away last weekend so couldn't go. The problem is, though, that Enchanted comes out this weekend, and I badly want to see that too. And frankly, the price of going to the flicks these days means that we don't tend to go twice in a weekend if we can avoid it !

I'm glad to know that about the ending as that would have really disappointed me. That whole part brought everything to a close.

I saw the movie on Sunday and had mixed feelings, too. It's entertaining, and works on that level just fine, but I thought it should have/could have been so much more compelling. They rushed the plot along at a rollicking pace and as a result the character development was lacking IMO. I was fine with the ending, understanding that this movie has been aimed at kids, and I think saving the last chapters of the book for the beginning of the next film (if there is one) would be less problematic for the younger members in the audience to handle.

Was it my imagination or has Nicole Kidman had surgery? Her lips and nose looked different to me (or maybe she had something done a long time ago, and I'm just now noticing; or, maybe I'm just hallucinating - LOL!).

Everyone seems to have expressed the same feelings as I have about the film. I do hope there is another one.

Nicole Kidman, while gorgeous, does have a certain "look," doesn't she? My DH said she looks as though she has spent several days in a laboratory being sanitized before making an appearance. I think Botox has something to do with that. (Mind you, I'm just jealous - I'd love to have a bit of work done!)

Just saw this film and absolutely loved it. The story works well as good entertainment, on more than one level. It is obviously an allegory re good vs. evil. I loved the way they went back to the original use of the term "Daemon", which was not our "Demon" with its evil connotations. And I liked the fact that the witches personfied "good." Well, there was a lot to like, Kidman's acting, the Ice Bears, the children.

From the last words in the film, I definitely had the impression that there WILL be a sequel! Now to go seek out Pullman's books....

Just for fun, I finally got my own Daemon: it's a Raven.

So, woodnymph, you're obviously known as a raven beauty...

(I'll get my coat.)